Drive assembly for a torque converter including a spring retainer engaging a clutch plate

Abstract

A drive assembly for a torque converter is provided. The drive assembly includes a spring retainer. The spring retainer includes at least one rounded portion contoured to wrap around an outer circumferential surface of at least one spring and an axial extension joined to the rounded portion. The axial extension extends axially away from rounded portion and includes a connecting portion for engaging a clutch plate. A torque converter and a method of forming a drive assembly for a torque converter are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A drive assembly for a torque converter comprising:
 a spring retainer rotatable about a center axis, the spring retainer comprising:
 at least one rounded portion contoured to wrap around an outer circumferential surface of at least one spring; and 
 an axial extension joined to the rounded portion, the axial extension extending axially away with respect to the center axis from rounded portion and including a connecting portion for engaging a clutch plate, the rounded portion beginning radially inside of the at least one spring and extending radially outward along a turbine-side of the at least one spring before arcing around an outer radial portion of the at least one spring directly into an outer rim of the spring retainer, the axial extension being part of the outer rim. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A torque converter comprising the drive assembly as recited in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       3. The drive assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising the clutch plate, the spring retainer being formed as a single piece engaging the clutch plate and retaining the at least one spring. 
     
     
       4. The drive assembly as recited in  claim 3  wherein the clutch plate includes an extension and the axial extension of the spring retainer engages the extension of the clutch plate. 
     
     
       5. The drive assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein the clutch plate includes at least one friction surface, the extension of the clutch plate extending radially away from the at least one friction surface. 
     
     
       6. The drive assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a drive tab for driving the at least one spring circumferentially. 
     
     
       7. The drive assembly as recited in  claim 6  further comprising a cover plate, the drive tab being formed at an end of the cover plate. 
     
     
       8. The drive assembly as recited in  claim 7  wherein the cover plate forms a first axial thrust stop configured for contacting an engine-side surface of the spring retainer. 
     
     
       9. The drive assembly as recited in  claim 8  further comprising an additional cover plate forming a second axial thrust stop configured for contacting a turbine-side surface of the spring retainer opposite the first axial thrust stop. 
     
     
       10. The drive assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein the spring retainer includes a nose protruding axially toward the cover plate for contacting the first axial thrust stop, the nose joining a radial inner end of rounded portion. 
     
     
       11. The drive assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein the second axial thrust stop contacts an inner radial end of the spring retainer. 
     
     
       12. The drive assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein the spring retainer splits at the inner radial end to form an axially extending piloting interface for alignment with an outer radial end of the additional cover plate and a radially extending section for contacting the second axial thrust stop surface. 
     
     
       13. A torque converter comprising:
 a lock-up clutch including at least one friction surface; and 
 a damper assembly rotatable about a center axis, the damper assembly including at least one rounded portion contoured to wrap around an outer circumferential surface of at least one spring, the damper assembly including an axial extension, the axial extension extending axially with respect to the center axis from the rounded portion to connect the damper assembly to the lock-up clutch radially outside of the at least one friction surface, the rounded portion beginning radially inside of the at least one spring and extending radially outward along a turbine-side of the at least one spring before arcing around an outer radial portion of the at least one spring directly into an outer rim of the spring retainer, the axial extension being part of the outer rim. 
 
     
     
       14. The torque converter as recited in  claim 13  wherein the damper assembly includes a spring retainer, the axial extension and the rounded portion being part of the spring retainer. 
     
     
       15. The torque converter as recited in  claim 13  wherein the lock-up clutch includes a radial extension, the radial extension being connected to the axial extension. 
     
     
       16. The torque converter as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a turbine shell, the damper assembly being connected to the turbine shell. 
     
     
       17. A method of forming a drive assembly for a torque converter comprising:
 connecting an extension of a clutch plate to an extension of a spring retainer, the spring retainer being rotatable about a center axis, the spring retainer including at least one rounded portion contoured to wrap around an outer circumferential surface of at least one spring, the extension of the clutch plate extending radially with respect to the center axis from the rounded portion, the extension of the spring retainer extending axially with respect to the center axis, the rounded portion beginning radially inside of the at least one spring and extending radially outward along a turbine-side of the at least one spring before arcing around an outer radial portion of the at least one spring directly into an outer rim of the spring retainer, the axial extension being part of the outer rim. 
 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 17  further comprising positioning drive tabs circumferentially between springs retained by the spring retainer. 
     
     
       19. The method as recited in  claim 17  further comprising stamping the spring retainer and a cover plate for the spring retainer from a same single piece of metal. 
     
     
       20. The method as recited in  claim 19  further comprising positioning the cover plate as an axial thrust stop for the spring retainer.